When ordained to the Diaconate or “transitional Diaconate” in the final year of a seminarian’s formation towards priesthood, you give a promise to pray the “Liturgy of the Hours” (the Breviary) each day.
My breviary handed to me the first week I entered seminary formation some thirty plus years ago is held together with black binding tape and a rubber band. Stuck within the pages are funeral cards of family, relatives, friends; and pictures of various individuals I have met along the way as a priest. One of which is that of Fr. Al McCoy who served in my hometown parish of St. Joseph, Wesley, for a short two years.
Though I lived in a different part of the state at the time, he befriended me when I returned to visit my mother. An Irishman in a German Catholic town, trying to get us to at least crack a smile during Mass. Well educated and intelligent, it was his ‘down to earth’ humanity that allowed me to listen to the “calling” in spite of my doubts. His essential advice to me, within our conversations and my doubts about the calling to the priesthood, consisted of this simple statement: “Give it a try and see what happens; if it isn’t for you, at least you had the guts to try.” Not overly philosophical, but the words I needed to hear back in 1988 as I hesitated. Fr. Al McCoy, born December 15th, 1928; ordained May 5, 1954; died September 13, 2012, arranged to have this passage by the Catholic theologian, Karl Rainer, placed on his funeral card: So, my dear friends, pray for him. We enter National Vocations Week, seeking prayers and support of our seminarians—and those everywhere—who are in formation preparing for the calling to the priesthood. We continue to pray and support, through our faith and humanity, the calling of others who may not be listening, who are hesitating to take that step as God intends. Fr. Ross and I thank you for your prayers and support of our ordained ministry; we ask you to hold in your prayers our seminarians, and those whom our God is calling to take that step into formation and ordained ministry. And in a special way this week, remember those priests— God rest their souls—who have in some way influenced your faith. Thank you.
You may have read about the world wide Synod our Pope Francis has opened up to all parishes and dioceses. We have placed the Synod Form with the discussion questions on our website. Additionally, the Synod Form sheet will be placed in the bulletin prior to the gatherings. You may take the opportunity to reply to the questions on your own and return to the parish office or attend one of the meetings. Because of schedules and activities taking up evenings, we are offering the following times to gather for thoughtful discussion:

November 14th at St. Malachy’s following the 8:30am Mass (remain in church)
November 14th at St. John’s following the 10:00am Mass (remain in church)
November 14th at Sacred Heart following the 10:00am Mass (remain in church)
November 15th at Sacred Heart Parish Hall, 7:00pm

At each gathering their will be someone recording the replies which in turn will be sent to the diocese, and in turn to Rome. Pope Francis hopes this two year process brings an openness and renewal to our Catholic faith and the Sacramental life of our Church.

God Bless, Fr. Tim

FYI: “It often happens that I wake up at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.” (Pope John XXIII